Category: Textiles

List of Gloves Manufacturers in China

Posted on by Ika Liu — Leave a comment

Looking for glove suppliers in Mainland China? In this article, we list factories located in Zhejiang, Hebei, Guangdong, and Fujian – covering everything from safety and sports gloves to knitted and leather gloves.

In addition, we also explain why it’s essential to create a comprehensive product specification, regardless of whether you intend to buy custom-designed (OEM) or private label (ODM) gloves.

What should I include in my product specification?

When I speak to our customers on the phone, I often say that a product is only as good as its specification. In a way, you only get what you specify in terms of design, quality, and materials – nothing more or less.

As such, it’s crucial to understand what defines the design and quality of your gloves.

This is what I suggest you to include in your product specification:

  • Design drawings
  • Sewing patterns
  • Size chart
  • Bill of materials (e.g. fabrics and buttons)
  • Logo files
  • Care label

Continue reading List of Gloves Manufacturers in China

List of Caps and Hats Manufacturers in China

Posted on by Ika Liu — Leave a comment

baseball cap

Planning to import caps or other headwear from factories in China? In this article, we list cap and hat suppliers in Guangdong, Jiangsu and other provinces.

In addition, we also answer key questions about what to include in your techpack, common quality issues and minimum order quantities.

Where are most Cap factories located in China?

Most export-oriented cap and headwear suppliers are located in Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Guangdong. If you’re planning to visit suppliers in this industry you’re quite likely to find yourself in at least one of the following cities:

  • Guangzhou, Guangdong
  • Dongguan, Guangdong
  • Xiamen, Fujian
  • Quanzhou, Fujian
  • Zhenjiang, Jiangsu

What should I include in my techpack?

While most factories can present showrooms full of demo products they’ve made for other customers, they still expect you to provide a complete techpack. These files must be included:

  • Design drawing
  • Sewing pattern
  • Bill of materials (fabric, color codes, velcro, and other parts)
  • Care label
  • Logo / Embroidery files
  • Size chart

While it may seem like a shortcut to send over a reference sample to the factory, that’s rarely the case. We’ve dealt with many cases involving buyer’s that fail to provide clear product information to their factories – something that often results in severe quality issues. Continue reading List of Caps and Hats Manufacturers in China

Clothing Manufacturers in China: How to Find the Right Factory

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 722 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 20 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Click Here to Get the
Starter Package: Apparel & Textiles

Looking to design your own T-shirt or launch your knitwear collection? Outsourcing to China, or other low-cost countries, may be your only option. In this article, I explain what you need to know when selecting a clothing manufacturer, substance regulations, material quality and managing the product development and production process.

Regardless of whether you’re an apparel startup looking to try out a new product line, or consider yourself the next Karl Lagerfeld, this article is packed with actionable advice for you. But first, I’ll explain why buying wholesale clothing from China is rarely an option.

Buying wholesale clothing from China?

The Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) of clothing and textile items is often 300 to 500 pcs, per design. That translates into a major investment, assuming you want to launch an entire collection.

Many importers assume that the solution to this is by skipping manufacturing and purchase off shelf clothing from wholesalers. Continue reading Clothing Manufacturers in China: How to Find the Right Factory

Clothing & Textiles Manufacturers in Bangladesh: Top 6 Factories

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 12 Comments

bangladesh garment

Bangladesh functions as a garment manufacturing hub for many large European and Japanese brands. For smaller brands, Bangladesh is an increasingly attractive manufacturing alternative to China.

In this article, we list some of Bangladesh leading clothing and textiles factories. In addition, I also explain how you can find additional supplier lists using the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) databank.

List of Garment Factories in Bangladesh

Alhaj Textile Mills Ltd

Founded in 1962, Alhaj Textile Mills Ltd is one of the oldest cotton manufacturing companies in Bangladesh. Alhaj Jute Mills is an associate company of Alhaj Textile Mills which was established in 1967.

The company was established as a private limited company but was converted to a public limited company in 1983.

The Textile Mills manufacturing unit is located in Ishurdi Pabna. It has a total of 20,160 spindles and 800 rotor head. Alhaj Jute Mills is located in Sharisabari Jamalpur. It employs 1600 workers and 200 officers and has a production capacity of 20 tons per day.

Alhaj textile Mills has a diverse product range which includes:

  • Viz. Cotton
  • Polyester Spun
  • Poly Viscose Blend
  • Poly Cotton Blend
  • 100% Viscose Blend

Currently, Alhaj textile Mills mainly exports to the South American market. This includes Perú, Brazil, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Argentina and other small countries in this region.

Address: 66 Dilkusha C/A, 4th Floor, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh Continue reading Clothing & Textiles Manufacturers in Bangladesh: Top 6 Factories

Clothing & Textiles Manufacturers in Cambodia: Top 5 Suppliers

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

phnom penh

Compared to other export nations in the region, Cambodia is a fairly small player in terms of population. However, the country is a major player in the textiles industry, which makes up 80% of Cambodia’s total exports.

In this article, we list some of Cambodia’s leading garment manufacturers and point you in the right direction to find alternative suppliers.

Cambodia Garment Industry Overview

A large number of Cambodia’s garment manufacturers are owned and operated by foreign companies. Many of which are from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan – but there are quite a few European players as well.

Further, Cambodian garment factories procure large quantities of fabrics and other components (e.g., velcro, zippers and buttons) from suppliers in Mainland China.

It’s also important to mention that some garment suppliers have been subject to criticism over extremely low wages, and poor facilities. That said, a few bad suppliers should not be allowed to tarnish the reputation of the entire textiles industry in Cambodia – as it provides desperately needed jobs and access to capital. Continue reading Clothing & Textiles Manufacturers in Cambodia: Top 5 Suppliers

Silk Suppliers in China: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

silk fabric

About to import silk scarves, fabric rolls or other silk products from China? In this article, we list some of China’s established silk producers and trading companies, based in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai.

We also explain what all Silk importers must know about chemical regulations, silk labeling requirements and minimum order quantity.

Production Clusters in Mainland China

Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, in eastern China, are the traditional production clusters for silk. Today, suppliers are not entirely concentrated to Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

However, as you can see in this supplier list, companies based in this region are still among the top silk exporters.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that their silk is exclusively produced there. In fact, many Silk suppliers are trading companies, buying raw materials from local producers in various provinces.

Also notice that many Silk suppliers are not apparel makers. They supply silk fabrics, but you may need to work with another factory to produce the final goods. Continue reading Silk Suppliers in China: A Complete Guide

Underwear & Lingerie Manufacturers in China: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 159 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 20 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Click Here to Get the
Starter Package: Apparel & Textiles

In this product guide, we explain everything you must know about Underwear & Lingerie Manufacturers in China, including industrial clusters, supplier qualification and design customization options.

We also explain what you must know about potential quality issues and applicable labelling requirements – and substance restrictions in the United States and the European Union.

Underwear and Lingerie Manufacturing Clusters in China

China’s export oriented underwear manufacturers are largely concentrated in the country’s primary textiles production centers; Guangdong Province, Fujian Province and Zhejiang Province.

If you intend to visit manufacturers in Mainland China, you are likely to find yourself in one of the following cities: Continue reading Underwear & Lingerie Manufacturers in China: A Complete Guide

OEKO Tex Standard 100: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — Leave a comment

OEKO tex standard fabrics
OEKO Tex Standard 100 is a standard used to check harmful chemicals and heavy metals in apparel and other textile products.

Many Importers are familiar with OEKO Tex Standard 100, but are still uncertain whether compliance is required by law, and how the entire certification process works.

In this article, we answer some of the most common questions clothing and textiles importers have about OEKO Tex Standard 100:

  • What is OEKO Tex Standard 100?
  • Is compliance required by law?
  • What is the difference between Standard 100 and REACH?
  • How do I find Standard 100 certified manufacturers?
  • How do I verify OEKO Tex Certificates?
  • How do I book lab testing?

What is OEKO Tex Standard 100?

OEKO Tex Standard 100 is an international lab testing and textile certification system, applicable to both fabrics and finished clothing.

OEKO Tex, which is an independent organization based in Switzerland, created the 100 Standard as a collection of several international regulatory frameworks:

However, OEKO Tex takes it one step further than the US and EU, as the 100 Standard also includes the following:

  • Important legal regulations, such as banned Azo colorants, formaldehyde, pentachlorophenol, cadmium, nickel, etc.
  • Numerous harmful chemicals, even if they are not yet legally regulated.
  • Numerous also environmentally relevant substance classes

In other words, OEKO Tex Standard 100 sets the bar higher than any government or state agency in the world.

For Importers selling in several countries and markets, ensuring OEKO Tex Standard 100 is simply a matter of practicality, as you can be sure that you match the highest standard there is.

Notice: REACH is an EU regulation, that restricts hundreds of chemicals and heavy metals in textiles, CPSIA, which is only required for children’s products in the United States, restricts lead content in textiles. Continue reading OEKO Tex Standard 100: A Complete Guide

T-Shirt Manufacturers in China: Design Options, MOQ & Prices

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

t-shirt manufacturers

Click Here to Get the
Starter Package: Apparel & Textiles

About to import T-shirts from suppliers in China? In this article, we list some of China’s leading T-shirt factories, and explain what all importers should know about:

  • T-shirt design customization options
  • Fabrics and colors
  • MOQ requirements
  • Prices
  • Trade shows
  • Sourcing on Alibaba.com and Globalsources.com

Yubao (G.Z) Industry Co., Ltd.

Yubao (G.Z) industry Co., Ltd., also known as ViMass, is the manufacturer and exporter of T-shirts and other apparel products based in Guangdong, Mainland China.

The factory was founded in 2006, but within a couple of years, it emerges as the well-recognized exporter of t-shirts to Middle East, Europe, and Americas. It has more than 200 employees, while the annual revenue of the company is more than USD one million.

They offer a wide range of clothing products for men that include:

  • T-shirts
  • Hoodies and baseball jackets
  • Pants
  • Polo shirts and tank tops
  • Crewnecks
  • Coats
  • Sweaters

They offer customized OEM and ODM services to their global clients, along with buyer labels. More than 90% of their manufactured products are exported to other countries.

The average lead time is around 30 days. Yubai (G.Z) Industry Co., Ltd. is also a verified exporter listed at Alibaba, and a licensed manufacturer.

Office: Room 201, 2F, C Building, Xiamao Thirteen Industrial Area, Baiyunhu St., Baiyun Area, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (Mainland)

Factory: 2/F North,Block D, No.13 Dekang Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (510000) Continue reading T-Shirt Manufacturers in China: Design Options, MOQ & Prices

How to Find the Best Clothing Suppliers on Alibaba.com in 8 Steps

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — Leave a comment

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Click Here to Get the
Starter Package: Apparel & Textiles

With thousands of suppliers to choose from, sourcing clothing and textiles on Alibaba.com can be overwhelming.

Unless you have manual, that breaks down the process in actionable steps:

1. Find the right keyword and use the ‘Supplier search’ function

2. Review the supplier page

3. How to read the TrustPass profile

4. Review product pages

5. Select suppliers, submit techpack and request quotations

6. Order product samples from 4+ suppliers

7. Place your order with Alibaba Trade Assurance

8. How to book a sea or air shipment

1. Find the right keyword and use the ‘Supplier search’ function

Using the right product keyword is the key to success when sourcing products on Alibaba.com. All suppliers have their own product focus, and we need to be sure we only identify those that are relevant.

A few examples follow below:

  • Bamboo rayon t-shirt
  • Polyester yarn
  • Organic cotton baby clothes

Don’t go too specific, you won’t find matching suppliers.

Supplier search

Once you’ve found the right keyword, you must switch from product search, to supplier search. After all, we are here to find qualified factories, not product listings.

By now you should see a list of suppliers. I just searched “Organic cotton baby clothes” and got 832 options to choose from.

Obviously, that’s too many suppliers to process.

How to filter suppliers

The left column on Alibaba.com gives you many options for further filtering suppliers.

When sourcing clothing and textiles on Alibaba.com, I suggest that you only focus on ‘Mgnt Certification’ which enables you to filter suppliers based on the following:

  • ISO 9001
  • BSCI
  • ISO 14001
  • SA 8000
  • IS 13485

I primarily filter clothing suppliers based on BSCI, and in some cases, ISO 14001. These suppliers also tend to perform better in terms of quality and compliance.

Watch this video to learn how to get your product made in China, Vietnam & India

I want to book a free consultation call

2. Review the supplier page

BSCI, which is a social compliance protocol used in the clothing and textile industry, filtered the number of suppliers down to only 20. That’s easier to manage than 832 suppliers.

This is about as far as we can get, using the search function.

Now it’s time to open the supplier page, and make an assessment based on the information we find on their company page.

Use this checklist

  • Are they listed as a trading company or manufacturer?
  • Are they specialised in your product category?
  • Do they offer the same types of fabrics?
  • Do they provide factory images?
  • Do they have uploaded test reports? (i.e., REACH)
  • Do they have uploaded factory audit reports?

Gold Suppliers

You can also see the number of years a supplier has been a Gold Supplier.

This is of some interest, but certainly not the main thing I look at.

Alibaba Trade Assurance

It’s a big plus if the supplier is part of the Alibaba Trade Assurance program. I get back to that further down in this guide.

3. How to read the TrustPass profile

Alibaba.com provides verified company information for every Gold Supplier. This information can also be used to assess if the supplier is qualified or not.

When sourcing clothing and textile products on Alibaba.com, the only piece of information that truly matters here is the registered capital.

Look for suppliers that have at least RMB 500,000.

Suppliers with less registered capital are more likely to be traders.

fabric printing

4. Review product pages

Many buyer’s go straight to the product page, and then start reviewing the supplier page and TrustPass profile.

But what’s the point of spending time reviewing product pages, if the supplier is not qualified?

But that’s not the only reason I save the product page for last:

a. Many suppliers don’t provide accurate product listings. In many cases, you just see a few product photos, and a basic spec sheet.

b. Most suppliers only use product listings to ‘demonstrate’ what they can make for you. It doesn’t mean that they actually have the materials in stock, or even a pattern file ready.

c. Hence, product listings don’t really matter. What does matter, however, is the suppliers’ capabilities and main product focus.

There are of course exceptions, but this is the situation for most suppliers.

5. Select suppliers, submit techpack and request quotations

At this stage you should have a shortlist of at least 10 suppliers.

You can get in touch with the supplier, either by clicking on the ‘Contact Supplier’ button or ‘Chat Now’.

Your success from this point and on will depend largely on how you introduce yourself.

Most new customer leads are extremely vague. Hence, the suppliers don’t even bother to respond to many quotation requests.

Use this checklist to maximize the number of successful RFQs:

a. Provide patterns, specification sheets and component images

b. Introduce yourself and your company

c. Clarify that your intention is to get a quote, order samples and then place your first test order.

d. Request the supplier’s Wechat ID.

e. Follow up a few times per week until you’ve received your quotation

You should give your supplier at least 4 to 7 days to provide quotations.

alibaba clothing factory

6. Order product samples from 4+ suppliers

Despite the fact that you’ve already invested significant time in vetting suppliers and requesting quotations, the real test remains.

Making product samples.

This is not a small task. In the textile industry, I’d say that the fail rate is normally around 50%.

To avoid a situation where you have to start all over again, I strongly advise you to buy product samples from at least 4 suppliers.

Assuming that 2 supplier fail, you still have 2 options left.

Prices

Expect to pay around $50 – $200 per sample, excluding delivery fees.

You can either pay via the Alibaba payment gateway, or directly to the supplier.

Lead times

Most suppliers need at least 30 to 40 days to produce the product samples.

Request photos before the supplier ships the samples. That way you can spot quality issues, without having to pay $50 in shipping fees.

7. Place your order with Alibaba Trade Assurance

The Alibaba Trade Assurance protects you in 2 ways:

A. If the goods are not shipped on time (as specified in the digital purchase contract)

B. If the products are not matching the specifications (as stated in the agreement)

However, the coverage only applies if you strictly follow this process:

Step 1: Place order through Trade Assurance

Step 2: Use Alibaba Trade Center (Under My Alibaba) to communicate with the supplier

Step 3: Create Purchase Contract on Alibaba.com

This contract is only valid for the products. Trade Assurance doesn’t cover any warranties, replacements or other services agreed upon between the Alibaba supplier and the buyer.

This should be included in the Purchase Contract:

  • Patterns
  • Seams
  • Tolerances
  • Material specifications
  • Bill of Materials
  • Label Files
  • Compliance Requirements (i.e., REACH)
  • Export Packaging
  • Prints & Artwork
  • Packaging

You must also specify the final delivery date, quality check terms and incoterms.

Step 4: Confirm contract

Step 5: Make payment: Credit Card or Telegraphic Transfer (ONLY use the designated account)

You should also follow up each order with a quality check, before shipment.

The Trade Assurance doesn’t cover refunds or replacements once you have approved the order.

8. How to book a sea or air shipment

Once the goods are quality checked, lab tested and approved, you can go ahead and book the shipment.

You essentially have 3 options:

a. Let the supplier book the shipment (I suggest you avoid this)

b. Book a shipment via Alibaba (This is still under development, but they are expanding their logistics network worldwide)

c. Book a shipment via Freightos.com, Flexport.com or other online platform

Import duties, and other taxes, are paid once the goods arrive in the port of destination.

Do you want to import textile products from China, Vietnam or India?

It can be hard to go from a design drawing to finished product. To help you manage the entire process – from creating a specification, to sampling and quality control – we created a Starter Package for Apparel & Textiles:

a. Manufacturer Lists

b. Product Specification Templates

c. Label Samples (USA & EU)

d. Tutorials, Video Walkthroughs and Task Lists that guide you step-by-step through the entire process

In addition, you can also book quality inspections, lab testing and shipping directly from the platform. Click here to learn more.